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Parity was already a fact in Japan and the country was gearing itself up for overdrive； for the great push to surpass those countries from which it had learned。 And there would e a day now； Nicholas was convinced； when the Japanese； having proved his economic strength； would shed his Western appurtenances； returning in re…won security to the traditional kimono； robes of state。
They were on the fast train … the express … from Tokyo to Osaka。 Out of the window on their right was all of the width of Honshu； the main island。 On the other side they could see from time to time the glintings of the sea； throwing bright golden reflections in abstract patterns across the car's ceiling。 The vibration from the rails was minimal； as was the noise on this sleek blue and silver liner； quiet； spacious and serene。
Yukio sat back in the seat； linked her arm through his。 'Why don't we stay overnight in Osaka？' she suggested and then； as if in explanation； 'I hate trains。'
Nicholas thought about that。 Perhaps it wasn't such a bad idea。 The nightlife there was bright and glossy and he needed cheering up right now。
The little bit of clandestine cloak…and…dagger that Yukio and he had concocted regarding Saigo … he had quite conveniently forgotten whose suggestion it had been … had proved unnecessary。 Astoundingly； before she had even had a chance to leave for the dinner at Satsugai's house； where she was to take a peek at Saigo's ticket destination； a note had been delivered to Nicholas。 It was in Saigo's hand and it invited him to e to a town called Kumamoto in Kyushu for a visit during the next few weeks。 No reason was given for the invitation。 Like everything in Saigo's life； this； too； was meant to be secretive。
Nicholas had read the note with a mounting sense of deflation。 Irrationally； he felt as if Saigo had somehow read his mind and he could not throw off the anticipatory overtones the words set off in him； like a far…off bell tolling from some fog…shrouded hillside。 〃This will all be unexplored territory；' Kansatsu had said to him； 'if you decide it's what you want。 It is totally your decision to make； Nicholas。 I cannot guide you。 Only say that here you can go no further。 For that you must look to the darkness … and the light。' Squelched； his plan had been cruelly revealed as just so much juvenile fantasy and； instead of thinking about why he had been asked south； he made himself busy feeling unhappy； defeated。 And to make matters worse； Yukio went to dinner at Satsugai's anyway。
Mountains reared silently through the perspex window； blue…grey； ragged with streaks of snow running down from their summits like spilt cream。 One of the three ranges of Alps … the most southerly； headed by Mount Shirane … passed like a cincture about Honshu's waist。 Where was he headed now； he wondered。 Into the light or the darkness？ Did it matter？
'Especially this one；〃 Yukio said as if there had been no space of silence between。 'I hate this one。 All the wide seats； the chrome trim； the bigger windows don't mean a thing to me。 It's worse on this one。 Because of the silence。 The silence makes me restless。' She made a face。 'My foot's asleep。' She shifted； stretching out legs on which she had been sitting。 The businessman across the way rattled his paper； peals of warning。
'All right；〃 Nicholas said。 'Yes。' There seemed no good reason to rush headlong into Kumamoto。 Anyway； he'd only been to Osaka once when he was much younger and he was curious to see how much it had changed。 Would he recognize it？ He thought not。
He felt Yukio's presence close and warm beside him and he wondered if it had been intelligent to take her。 In truth it had not been his idea。 But after making his decision to accept Saigo's summons； it had proved quite impossible to deflect her。 'It was you； after all；' she had said in her most persuasively accusatory tone； 'who got me involved in this in the first place。' He couldn't recall whether or not that was so。 'It's only fair you take me along now。' She had flung her head back defiantly； sensually …but then； even in anger； she was superbly sensual。 'Besides； if you don't； I'll only e with you on my own。 Do you think you could hide from me？' He thought not。 Decidedly un…Japanese； he had said to himself while acquiescing。 Did the Colonel give in to Cheong in this way？
He often trembled when she was so close to him； his muscles jumping and twitching quite beyond his control。 He sometimes clandestinely watched this phenomenon as if he were an outsider。 This helped stymie the feelings of terror that rose； fluttering like leathery bats； from the pit of his stomach； rising towards his head。 This he knew he must not allow to happen； otherwise he felt he might go mad。 She passed a hand across his flesh and thus stirred that hidden pool at the core of his being which he had； for a time； thought closed even to himself。 It remained inaccessible to him。
Mr Mitsubishi； face glossy as a horse's hide after a canter； had put his paper down； folding it lengthwise。 He proceeded to destroy the pyramid beside him； opening his attach^ case； closing it again。 On its spotless top he unfolded waxed paper in which was a chicken sandwich。 Light lanced from his round glasses as he ate； turning him blind for moments at a time。 Perhaps somewhere； Nicholas thought； he had a small bag of crisps or a bar of chocolate。
Behind him； a group of Japanese businessmen； in all respects identical to Mr Mitsubishi； rustled inside their dark three…piece suits like chrysaline insects； black bowlers on their laps； chattering animatedly about the two Jacks； Ruby and Kennedy。
One did not travel to Osaka for culture … one went to Kyoto； the country's original capital； for that。 It was monly said …mostly by the inhabitants of Tokyo … that Osakans were money…mad businessmen； greeting each other on crowded street corners with the all…too…familiar phrase 'Mo kari makka？' Making any money？
Nicholas had little first…hand knowledge of such affairs yet it was true that secreted along the city's riotous streets； like tiny pockets of the past encysted within the neon age； were numerous shrines to Fudo…miyo…o； the deity overseeing such matters as concerned the dedicated businessman。 These shrines never seemed to lack for attention。
He took them to a smallish modern hotel not far from the Dotombori where they checked into separate but adjoining rooms。 It being still too early for dinner； they immediately set out to see the city。
Yukio insisted on seeing Osaka Castle； that last bastion of refuge of the Toyotomi family； besieged by leyasu Tokugawa after he had already assumed the mantle of Shogun in 1603。 It had been erected by Hideoshi Toyotomi … as had much of Osaka … and was pleted within three years； in 1586。
'There was a time；' Yukio said as they strolled through the park； bordered at their backs by the modern Osakan skyline； 'when the Lady Yodogimi was my ideal。' The castle loomed through the lowering afternoon； seeming larger than life； a squat pagoda； stolid and boxlike。 It was not； Nicholas reflected； the kind of structure that leyasu would have had built。
The crowds grew in size as they approached the castle's outward fortifications。 'What I